Dimitri Payet admits his free-kick talent has brought weight of expectation on his shoulders

The West Ham United star lit up Upton Park this season from set-pieces, and scored his latest stunner for France on Tuesday night.

West Ham United star Dimitri Payet has told L'Equipe, as quoted by Sky Sports, that the superb ability from free-kicks he has shown this season means that the crowd expect him to score from every one he takes.

Payet netted a stunning set-piece in the final minute of France's friendly international win over Cameroon on Tuesday night to win the match 3-2 after the African nation had equalised just minutes earlier.

That strike was just the latest in a long line of magnificent goals the 29-year-old has scored from a dead-ball situation since joining the Hammers last summer, following goals against Blackburn Rovers, Manchester United, and Crystal Palace, amongst others.

Payet's ability from free-kicks has been the aspect of his play which has grabbed the headlines, but the man himself, nominated for the PFA Player of the Year award for his exploits this term, revealed that there has been a negative consequence of his success.

The midfielder told L'Equipe, as quoted by Sky Sports: "When you score one, then two, then three, the crowd expect that you score every time. That doesn't always happen, even though it worked again tonight."

Payet may feel the weight of expectation on his shoulders, but he has also established himself as one of the most talented free-kicks takers around, and he will be hoping to be given plenty of opportunities to continue that reputation when he turns out for Les Bleus in his native country at Euro 2016 next month.

Tom Nightingale

After starting to write about football due to lack of any great ability on the pitch, Tom is an NCTJ-qualified sports reporter who has written for Swansea City, the Birmingham Mail, and numerous other publications. An avid Aston Villa fan, he still hasn't got over them not turning up in the 2015 FA Cup final.